FORA.tv Speaker - Josie Maran

Biography

Raised in a bohemian household in Northern California, Josie Maran grew up appreciating natural, unpretentious beauty. Ms. Maran's first experience with cosmetics started when, after being discovered at a family friend's barbecue at age 12, she entered the modeling industry.

At age 17, after graduating from high school, Ms. Maran signed with Elite Model Management in Los Angeles and her career in the fashion, beauty and entertainment industries took off. Ms. Maran quickly earned a name for herself by landing some of the most coveted jobs in the business, including a spot on the cover of Glamour magazine (on which she has appeared six times) and a stint as the iconic Guess girl. It was during her early career, working alongside beauty experts as she regularly appeared in top fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and Mademoiselle, that Ms. Maran began to develop an appreciation for makeup.

In 1997, after moving cross-country to sign with Elite Model Management in New York, Ms. Maran landed a lucrative contract as the face of Maybelline, a title she held for nearly a decade. Featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three years in a row, Ms. Maran eventually moved on to acting, appearing in feature films including "Van Helsing" and "The Aviator."

After welcoming her first child, Ms. Maran was inspired to start her business and in 2007, launched Josie Maran Cosmetics. The sustainably-responsible products are made with superior ingredients, feature biodegradable packaging and are crafted using eco-friendly manufacturing processes whenever possible. Through her company, Ms. Maran aims to inspire others to make a positive change in the world.